2023 Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Oceania Training Seminar was held on 19th March 2023, and nearly 300 BLIA members from different Oceania regions participated in the event. The seminar hosted by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Monastery Abbott Venerable Hsin Bao, and attended by BLIA Acting President Venerable Tzu Jong, Vice President Chao Ming Liu, Secretary-General Venerable Chueh Pei, Oceania Vice Secretary-General Venerable Manko, FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin, FGS Brisbane Abbess Venerable Manwan, BLIA World HQ Director Dominique Yu serving as the moderator. The seminar discussed the direction of development for FGS and BLIA after the passing of Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
More than 280 BLIA members, including FGS Christchurch Minister in charge Venerable Juexi, BLIA south island NZ President Bernie Siew, Vice President and BLIA South Island Chapter members, joined the seminar online along with members from various Oceania Chapters.
Regarding the question of “Who should be the leader after Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s passing?” Venerable Hsin Bao responded by stating that “The Fourfold Assembly of the FGS Monastery should make promoting Humanistic Buddhism the goal of propagating the Dharma, and rely on the temple and the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order for spiritual support. As long as we promote Humanistic Buddhism and practice according to Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s aspirations, we will increase our merits and wisdom.”
When asked about “How can we remember Venerable Master Hsing Yun after his passing?” Venerable Tzu Jong suggested that Master Hsing Yun has left behind many books and recorded teachings for us to study and practice, and we can best remember him by practicing the ‘Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings 3G4G.”
Regarding the future development of FGS Buddhist Order and the BLIA after Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s passing, Venerable Jue-Pei stated that “Buddhism plays an important role in benefiting society and purifying the mind. Faith and tradition are essential, so we must focus on education and implement a lifestyle that emphasizes learning and faith transmission, establish Buddhist families, encourage self-reliance and altruism and spread Humanistic Buddhism.”
Venerable Manko and Venerable Manwan mentioned the development of FGS Buddhist Order and the BLIA in Oceania over the past 30 years, from nothing to its present state. Venerable Manshin emphasised that FGS in New Zealand values the needs of the local people and strives to implement various educational programs to promote the 3G4G concept, which has allowed Humanistic Buddhism to take root in the local community as their spiritual refuge. Venerable Manwan emphasized Master Hsing Yun’s personality traits, including his reliability and compassionate aspirations that have led the global community to where it is today. He stressed that BLIA members should rely on the Venerable Master’s teachings and continue to pass on the faith to future generations.
When it comes to passing down faith to the next generation, Vice President Chao Ming Liu said that it is important to create connections and lead by example. Senior advisor Dominique shared the Melbourne team spent money last year to create the Wisdom and Light light show and One Stroke Calligraphy Exhibition for Master Hsing yun, with the aim of introducing young people and foreign nationals to the Master’s Buddhist teachings in a modern way, and to realize the concept of Buddhism in the Human World.
In the group discussions, the key topics discussed by the BLIA south islands executives were inheritance and cohesiveness. Venerable urged attendees to cherish their connections, apply what they have learned, and support the Temple by uphold the Venerable Master’s aspirations to make our world a better place.
